Camperdown Festival

Family and Children’s Activities

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PRESS RELEASE FINAL JUNE 23 “The Robert Burns Festival is happening this weekend, and the committee is ready to Welcome locals and visitors to our town.” Dr John Menzies OAM said. A full festival program has been planned that offers a wide selection of events over the weekend. There are Family and Children’s activities, bring the Children down to the Avenue on Saturday to see Scottish Highland cows in the Avenue, check out the wonderful art works on display in the local shops and don’t miss the Children’s event happening in the Library with Anne Daffy, John, Roni, Cait and Nell, Stories, Fun, Music and Instrument making from recycled materials. A Fun Family Celildh (Bush Dance) especially for mum’s, dads, kids and even grandparents from 6.30 pm – 7.50 pm is happening at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night with the School Children’s Art Prizes being awarded.  “The Corby Family Band along with members from …

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RBCF2025 History Talks… we invite locals, visitors and history buffs

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History Talks Return for Robert Burns Celtic Festival 2025Saturday 28 June | Killara Centre, Camperdown The much-loved History Talks return to the Robert Burns Celtic Festival 2025, hosted by the Camperdown & District Historical Society at the Killara Centre. This year’s program brings together four engaging sessions that explore how people have experienced, interpreted and responded to this part of Victoria — through science, survival, art and belief. “You don’t need a kilt to enjoy these talks,” says Historical Society President, Lyle Tune. “Just a curiosity for the stories and people that have contributed to the cultural, environmental and historical fabric of this region.” Program Highlights: The talks are included with a Robert Burns Festival weekend ticket or available separately for $25. The venue is the Killara Centre, beside Camperdown Library, with easy access and winter-warm comfort. $25 covers all 4 talks. Door sales available, pre purchase preferred. “We invite locals, visitors and history buffs …

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RBCF2025 Stories, Music, Fun and Making…

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“The 2025 Robert Burns Celtic Festival program includes some great opportunities for local folk and visitors to Camperdown” festival chairman Dr. John Menzies OAM said. Stories, Music, Fun and Making with Anne Daffy and Co, is a free event for the younger kids, Pre-School and Prep to Grade 6 will have a great time making things from recycled materials, music and stories on Saturday 28th June from 10.30 – 12.00 noon at the Camperdown Library. Anne, one of the festival musicians performing with the Corby Band over the weekend, grew up in Camperdown and is a sister of Peter and Maree Daffy.  Anne is involved in many committees including the Lake School, a teacher and busy mum, is kindly organising this fun children’s activity.  The Shortbread Baking Competition is again proudly sponsored by The Loaf and Lounge.  This is a great activity, all the local Schools are encouraging students to enter. Mercy Regional College featured …

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RBCF2025 The Reformers & Harpistry

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Camperdown’s Robert Burns Celtic Festival is one month away.  The Festival Committee have been busy finalising the RBCFestival Program. Dr Menzies OAM and Festival Chair said “The Hope of Something Better” tells a story of Australian Poet Henry Lawson. This year’s program includes a very special event to be held at St Paul’s Church featuring The Reformers and Harpistry on Saturday the 28th June. The Reformers formed to perform “The Hope of Something Better” live. The show is a multimedia performance that includes spoken word, video, songs and a live band, coming together to present the poems of Lawson in a new, vibrant and contemporary way. Hailing from Warrnambool, Victoria, songwriter, musician and producer, Don Stewart, has produced an album called “In the Hope of Something Better”. The Concert presents the poems of Australian iconic poet, Henry Lawson, as spoken word and songs, supported by Celtic tune compositions by internationally renowned Australian composers including Murray …

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ROBERT BURNS CELTIC FESTIVAL – APRIL 2025 PRESS RELEASE

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The 2025 Early Birds Tickets for the Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival offers great discounts for patrons. The Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee are pleased to announce that the festival Program is nearing completion and promises our Festival for the community will see new elements adding to a number of favourite events returning. The Festival Chairperson Dr John Menzies OAM said “the committee is pleased to announce that Early Bird tickets are now available via the festival website through TryBooking until 30th April and the Early Bird tickets are $90.00 which will allow patrons to go to all the performances at the designated venues over the weekend.” Please note that this price excludes the Friday night Gala Dinner. “Purchasing an Early Bird Ticket offers a great discount of 50% and Patrons who purchase their tickets will enjoy the benefits of this amazing offer,” said Festival Coordinator Catherine O’Flynn. Adult EARLY BIRD Weekend Ticket – *$90.00 will be …

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2024 Robert Burns Camperdown Celtic Festival

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From 2024 Camperdown’s Iconic Robert Burns Scottish Festival will be re-branded as the Robert Burns Celtic Festival and held on 21st – 23rd of June, 2024. Enjoyment of Robert Burns artistry, and appreciation of his independent philosophy saw enthusiastic embracement amongst his Celtic neighbours, especially the Irish in the 18th and 19th Centuries.  Given the substantial Scottish and Irish migration to South West Victoria in the 19th century  the Festival committee has chosen to adjust describing its festival to reflect this, hence we now have a new name that captures Burns Beyond Scotland ‘The 2024 Camperdown Robert Burns Celtic Festival’. This change to a Celtic festival expands our ability to include performers from Ireland, Wales and England while retaining connections to regular Scottish performers. The Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter literary and music festival, celebrating Scotland’s national Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown. Dr John Menzies OAM, Chair …

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Press Release – Robert Burns Scottish Festival 2023 Wrap

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Dr John Menzies, OAM said “the Festival was a great success this year with a full festival program including free events and ticketed events on offer proved to be a great combination for patrons and visitors to Camperdown, lots of people took advantage of the festival events, venues were well full and well patronised. The hard work in planning and putting the festival has meet all of our expectations”. The 2023 Robert Burns Scottish Festival committee presented a successful weekend. The festival kicked off with the Movie ‘Falling for Figaro’ on Thursday night. On Friday evening 100 guests came to the Gala Dinner featuring a sumptuous Scottish meal including the Address to the Haggis given by festival performer Fiona Ross, who later performed a wonderful selection of Traditional Scottish song, Merran Moir played the small pipes and son Kyle Moir played the bag pipes. Hugh and Janet Gordon also entertained the patrons. Strip the Willow …

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BURNS FESTIVAL LECTURE PROGRAM PRESS RELEASE

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A full and interesting program of lectures will be presented as part of the Robert Burns Scottish Festival on Saturday 1st July at the Killara Centre. Tickets Available Now: https://www.trybooking.com/CICVY Scottish born Fiona Ross will start the program at 10:30 am with a lecture exploring Burns’ approach to songwriting and discuss some of his better and lesser-known compositions. Fiona is a very accomplished singer with a strong interest in the history of traditional Scottish music and song. Stewart McArthur will be the second presenter at 11:30 am. He will talk about his family and local Scottish connections to the composition of Australia’s best loved folk song, Waltzing Matilda. Stewart is a well-known 4th generation descendant of a founding Scot of Camperdown district, Peter McArthur. He is a farmer, businessman and former politician. After the lunch break, at 1:30 pm, Dr Rosalie Triolo will present her findings about Scottish born teacher-enlistees from Camperdown district schools in World War …

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29 JUNE – 2 JULY 2023 ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL WEEKEND

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29 JUNE – 2 JULY 2023 ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL WEEKEND IS PROMISING TO BE A GREAT FESTIVAL WITH A FULL PROGRAM OF EVENTS. Tickets Available Now: https://www.trybooking.com/CICVY $60 Weekend Ticket (excludes Gala Dinner & Lectures – includes entry to 4 concerts – 3 Saturday, and Finale on Sunday, value $100)$35 Saturday Day Ticket (includes entry to 3 concerts – morning, afternoon and evening, value $75)$25 Single Entry$25 Saturday – Lecture Series$80 Friday – Night Gala Dinner$5 Thursday – Movie Night ‘ Falling for Figaro’Suggested Donation $15 – Saturday Ploughman’s Lunch with Unicorn Tapestry, limited spaces.FREE – Festival Choir FREE – Sunday Morning Concert – Gathering @ The BardFREE – Family Show with Eric ReadFREE – Kid’s Activities, Highland Dancing demonstrations & more… read on for full program details, including the school’s program, cooking classes, golf tournament and shortbread baking competition. For further information please contact Catherine O’Flynn RBSF Co-ordinator on 0407 056 126Connect: camperdownburnsfestival.com and facebook.com/robertburnsfestival Festival Chairperson, Dr …

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RBSF 2022 PROGRAM OF EVENTS

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Book Tickets Here – from 10am May 4 2022 ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL IS PROMISING TO BE GREAT FESTIVAL WITH A FULL PROGRAM OF EVENTS  The 2022 Robert Burns Scottish Festival is set to return to Camperdown 1-2-3 July this year. The Festivals Chairperson, Dr John Menzies OAM is pleased to announce that festival is going ahead and promises to be a great festival.  After two years of Covid restrictions and limited festival events last year due to the Covid restrictions the committee are working hard to ensure that Patrons and the local community are able to enjoy a full festival in 2022. The committee have invited back the musicians who were to perform at last years cancelled festival. These include The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Fiona Ross and Shane O’Mara, Claire Patti,  Austral, and Cornerhouse. A line-up of talented local bands and musicians including Pete Daffy and his band, The Twa Bards, Tuniversal Music …

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